USFSM, Longboat Key Club partnership making a difference

The 25-year-old works at The Resort at Longboat Key Club as part of an internship arranged by USF Sarasota-Manatee’s Career Services Office and the College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership.

“I work every day in paradise and I work with a great team,” the USFSM senior says.

The resort is among dozens of local businesses to host USFSM interns, but it also enjoys a unique relationship as the college’s official “teaching hotel.” That distinction originated in 2013 when Dr. Cihan Cobanoglu, director of the M3 Center for Hospitality Technology and Innovation at USFSM, launched a dialogue to create the partnership.

Four years later, USFSM couldn’t be happier. The resort not only provides internships, but it invites student groups to tour the facilities and regularly sends managers to the campus for guest lecture spots.

“We’ve worked with a number of different professors and the program has definitely turned out to be very beneficial to the students,” says Rick Benninghove, director of resort operations and a frequent guest lecturer. “Instead of just what they learn in textbooks, the students get to see what actually goes on at a resort and to ask questions about different operational areas and learn how to resolve challenging situations.”

But it’s the internship program that represents the college’s most valuable learning tool. Like other interns, Mishkin is gaining a 360-degree view of both the facility itself and the larger, upscale lodging industry.

She started work in May and has since received plenty of instruction by rotating through various resort departments and delving into everything from shift scheduling and the resort’s room-reservation software to inventory auditing.

The training is key as Mishkin hopes to someday land an upper-management position at a luxury resort or hotel corporation. For now, she’s working the front desk, where her daily interactions with guests are providing the most important lessons so far.

“You definitely learn more than what’s in a textbook, like being on your game, responding appropriately and knowing how to handle both difficult and routine guest interactions,” she said.

Dr. Pat Moreo, dean of the College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership, said the internship’s aim is to do just that, to give students a real-world glimpse into their field of study.

“Our goal is to bring the classroom and the practice together,” he said. “The Longboat Key Club and Resort has been a tremendous gift to us in reaching that goal.”

For years, the award-winning 410-acre beachfront property at the southern end of Longboat Key has been the standard bearer of luxury resorts in Sarasota and beyond. It boasts 223 guest rooms and suites, two outdoor pools, eight restaurants and lounges, a 291-slip marina, 45 holes of golf and 20 tennis courts. It regularly shows up on travel websites and in magazines as a top vacation destination, and for the past 36 years it’s been rated as a AAA Four-Diamond Resort.

Mishkin, who grew up working in small “mom-and-pop” restaurants in Osprey, said that’s no surprise given the resort’s emphasis on professionalism, courtesy and attention to detail.

“You have to be creative and thoughtful in everything you do and try to anticipate guest needs,” she said. “We’re part of making dreams come true. We’re part of people’s happiest memories, their biggest events, their weddings, their family vacations.

“People want to enjoy themselves here,” she said. “They want to come here and feel safe and welcome, and our job is to ensure they have that experience and can’t wait to book a return visit.”

To learn more about USFSM’s College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership, visit usfsm.edu/chtl/.

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About USF Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM)
USF Sarasota-Manatee is a regional campus of the University of South Florida system, offering the prestige of a nationally ranked research university with the convenience of a hometown location, including classes in Manatee and Sarasota counties, Venice and online. Separately accredited, USFSM is ideal for those interested in pursuing a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit in a small, personal setting with distinguished faculty and a dynamic curriculum of more than 40 academic programs. Website: www.usfsm.edu.

About The Resort at Longboat Key Club
The Resort at Longboat Key Club is Sarasota’s premier luxury beachfront resort and private membership club renowned for its distinctive guest service and unparalleled amenities. The resort is easily accessible from two international airports. On-site amenities include 45 holes of championship golf, the Tennis Gardens, The Spa, fitness center, eight distinctive restaurants and lounges, the 291 slip Longboat Key Club Moorings and a pristine Gulf of Mexico beachfront location. Accolades include being named a Condé Nast Top 30 Resort, Florida Gulf Coast, a AAA Four-Diamond Resort for 36 consecutive years, #6 Tennis Resort Worldwide by Tennis Resorts Online and a Top 25 Marina, North America by Power & Motor Yacht Magazine. Located at 220 Sands Pointe Road, Longboat Key, Florida, reservations can be made by calling (855) 314-2619 or online at www.longboatkeyclub.com.